Joseph s



(No Model.)

J. S. CURTIS.

SIPHON TAP FOR FURNAOES.

No. 307,845. 1 Patented Nov. 11, 1884.,

Inventor v.

STATES JOSEPH S. CURTIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SlPHON-TAP FOR FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 307,845, dated November 11, 1884.

Application filed April 22; 1864. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH S. GURTIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful SiphonTap for Drawing Off Melted Metals from Furnaces and Casting them in Molds, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to enable furnaces or other tanks containing melted metals to be tapped and the metal drawn off and run directly into molds in any quantity and as frequently as-desired without becoming chilled or choking up the passage from the furnace to the molds, the invention being especially applicable to the drawing off of lead or other metals having low melting-points from smelting-furnaces, and casting them directly in molds.

The method hitherto most employed for drawing offthelead from leadsmelters has been by means of the well-known Arents tap, which consists of a basin erected on one side of the furnace at about thelcvel of the-lead within, and connected with the bottom of the furnace by a tube through which the lead flows from the bottom of the furnace into the basin, where it stands at the same level as the lead within, by which means the metal is withdrawn as free from impurities as possible, and the difficulties arising from incrust-ation and clogging at the tap-hole by the old method of drawing off the whole charge of metal at one time are obviated. But the difficulty with the Arents tap is that in order to cast the metal into molds it has to be ladled out of the basin and turned into the molds by hand, which is a slow and troublesome operation. By my invention the metal may be drawn off from the furnace and run directly into molds, (in any quantity and as frequently as desired,) the flow of metal being perfectly controlled by a man incharge, without becoming chilled in its passage from the furnace to the molds.

My invention consists, generally, of a tube made in the form of asiphon, one end of which is in communication with the furnace or tank containing the melted metal, and the other end of which projects into melted metal contained in a holder or reservoir provided with a spout or orifice, through which the metal may I be run into molds. Normally the metal in this holder stands at the same level as the metal in the furnace, and therefore none flows through the siphon-tube into the holder; but by depressing the level of the metal in the holder, which is constructed so that it may be raised and lowered vertically or tipped horizontally, the metal will be made to flow from the furnace through the siphon and rise in the holder until it overflows through the spout into the molds. the flow through the siphon is checked, and the discharge from the holder ceases. I

In the accompanying drawings, which represent, in sectional elevation, a furnace provided with my improved siphon-tap, I have illustrated my invention in connection with a lead-smelting furnace provided with the Arents tap, in order to show the manner of applying it to this contrivance; but it will be evident that my invention may be employed without such contrivance, and may be applied directly to any kind of furnace, tank, or pot containing melted metal.

A represents the furnace, which may be of ordinary construction; B, the basin, and Othe the ordinary construction.

D is a siphon-tube, which may be formed of bent iron pipe, one end of which projects below the surface of the melted metal in the basin B, and the other end of which projects some distance into the holder E, containing melted metal. On one side of this holder is formed an inclined channel or spout, F, from which the metal is run directly into the molds carried upon the car or truck L. The holder E is set and supported in an iron bucket, G, which forms a fire-box provided with grate-bars g, as shown, to hold fuel for keeping the metal in the holder melted; and this bucket is suspended by a chain or wire rope, H, which passes over a pulley, I, and winds the man operating it stands in full view of the molds and spout.

In order to fill the siphon-tube D, the level of the metal in the basin B, which is the same as the level represented by the dotted line b in the furnace A, is raised by allowing the I charge to accumulate until it reaches the top communicating-tube of the Arents tap, also of By again raising the bucket up on the winch K, which is so placed that of the siphon, when it will pour into the holder E and fill both it and the siphon, after which a sufficient quantity of metal may be drawn 011' through the spout F, to bring the level in the basin B, and consequently in the holder E, down to the lip of the spout, when the flow will stop and the apparatus is ready to be operated continuously. To cast in molds, it is only necessary to lower the bucket and holder by means of the winch K, thus throwing the siphon out of balance and causing the metal to flow from the basin B into the holder E as rapidly as desired, depending upon the difference in level, until it flows out of the spout. In this way the man in charge is enabled to draw off the metal from the furnace in any quantity and as rapidly as desired,and run it directly into molds by simply raising and lowering the bucket.

The basin B may be arched over, if preferable, in order to protect it and prevent the metal therein from chilling, and the siphon D may be inclosed in a heating-jacket,if desired, for the same purpose.

The metal in the holder E may be preventthe siphon-tube D, leading into the furnace below the normal level of the melted metal, the l movable holder E, constructed to contain ed from solidifying in any suitable way, the temperature necessary to be maintained obviously depending upon the metal employed and the length of time it is required to stand in the holder between the times of casting.

The holder E may be constructed in any desired manner, and may be provided with any mechanical apparatus for raising and lowering it to control the flow of the metal therefrom. Instead, however, of causing the metal to flow out of the holder by raising and lowering it, as shown in the drawings, the holder may be mounted upon trunnions, so that it may be tipped horizontally, and the metal thus allowed to run over the spout or orifice. In a case where it is desired to apply my invention directly to a furnace or tank of any kind containing melted metal without the intervention of the Arents tap the siphon D may lead directly into any part of the furnace below the surface of the melted metal, and this siphon may evidently be formed of any desired material and of any shape and size, it being only necessary that its highest point, cl, should be above the normal level of the metal in the furnace, that it should be air- -the movable holder E, for containing melted tight, and its outer end project below the surface of the metal in the holder.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improved siphon-tap, consisting of the air-tight siphon-tube 1), leading into the furnace or tank below the normal level of the melted metal contained therein, the other end of the said siphon-tube projecting into the movable holder or reservoir E, for containing melted metal,and provided with the spout or orifice F, substantially as described, whereby the metal may be caused to flow through the siphon into the holder by lowering the level of the metal in the holder.

2. In combination with the furnace or tank A. the siphon-tube D, leading into the furnace below the normal level of the melted metal,

. 7 metal into which the other end of the siphontube projects,and the bucket or receptacle G, inclosing the holder constructed to contain fuel for keeping the metal therein in a melted condition, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the furnace or tan'k A,

meltedmetal, into which the other end of the siphon projects, and apparatus for raising and lowering the holder, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the furnace or tank A, the basin B, and connecting-tube O with the siphon-tubeD and the movable holder E, provided with the spout or orifice F, the ends of the said siphon projecting below the level of the metal in the basin and the holder, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the furnace or tank A, the basin B, and the connecting-tube C with the siphon-tube D, the movable holder, E, constructed to contain melted metal, and the bucket or receptacle G, inclosin g the holder, and constructed to contain fuel for keeping the metal therein in'a melted condition, and apparatus for raising and lowering the bucket and holder, substantially as described.

JOSEPH S. CURTIS.

\Vi tn esses:

ANTHONY 'IVIASON, ALBERT WILLIAMS, J r. 

